HUGE DEPOSITS IN PASHUPATINATH TRUST

INDIAN PHONE NUMBERS KEY TO ANSARI SHOOTING MYSTERY
Kathmandu, 9 April: If Indian authorities render timely cooperation in verifying some Indian phone numbers, the inside story in the Ansari shooting incident could unfurl, officials said, SUndar Khanal writes in Republica..

Nepal Police has sent at least 15 Indian phone numbers through Interpol to counterpart authorities in India for verification that could lead to important cues to the mystery.

The Indian phone numbers were among those that contacted Nepali cell phone numbers used by Manmeet Singh, the purported contract-killer who shot at Central Jail inmate Yunus Ansari and aides during the latter´s month-long stay in the capital.

Prospects of unearthing the ´source and motive´ behind the March 10 shooting that blatantly flouted security at the nation´s largest jail were deemed bleak until investigating officials luckily stumbled on a Nepali cell phone number (9813162464) used by Singh and his aides, and traced its call history.

Republica has gotten hold of the list of Indian phone numbers through police sources that requested anonymity owing to the sensitivity of the case. The numbers include 9792664666, 819005807200, 819005807200, 918400246815 and 919760365855. The most important number, officials said, is 9792664666, which reportedly belonged to Singh´s friend Ajay and was frequently used to contact Ramu and Suresh Dwibedi. These two were among the five Indian nationals who are believed to have stayed in the capital to plot the Central Jail shooting.

Investigating officials have also come across Singh´s mobile number (9044158700) and the landline number of his home (05222423206) in Lucknow.

Officials were repeatedly bluffed by the hitman during interrogations. He had provided three totally wrong numbers to distract the investigations. But the fluke find of a single paper chit mentioning that Ncell number changed the direction of the investigations.

“Given all these findings, we are looking forward to cooperative response from the Indians,” said an official involved in investigations. “Provided the response is as prompt as in the Jamim murder case, we will move onto a substantial phase. The mystery can then be solved.”

Besides the phone numbers, Nepal Police have also asked Indian counterparts about the identity of Singh himself and his purported background as a contract-killer. Singh was sent into judicial custody last week on a chargesheet for the first count-- illegal arms possession. Metropolitan Police Range Kathmandu (MPRK) is going to chargesheet him for attempted murder, at Kathmandu District Court on Sunday.

Singh, 42, had opened fire on M. Yunus Ansari, who has been serving time at the Central Jail since the past year on fake currency and drugs charges, at the jail visiting lounge. He entered the lounge dodging all security arrangements. He was overpowered by security personnel after firing five rounds only one of which injured Ansari, in the arm.

Singh, who hired Nepali legal counsel a few days ago to help him with court proceedings, studied for two years at a popular private school in Kathmandu while he was here with his parents, it came to light of late. “He studied in grades 2 and 3,” an official said. “So he has moderate knowledge of Nepali.”
nnnn




________________________________________


Nnnn

IILLEGAL NEPALAIS IN SAUDDI IN LURCH
Kathmandu, 9 Apri: As a six-month amnesty announced by Saudi Arabia for illegal workers ends, the fate of thousands of Nepali migrants -- who are overstaying their visas -- hangs in the balance. OM Astha Raiwrits in Republica.

Paras Ghimire, the first secretary at the Nepali Embassy in Saudi Arabia, says that the fate of all illegal Nepali workers -- who failed to return home during the amnesty period -- will be decided only after the Saudi government takes a new decision to this effect. As of now, according to Ghimire, the Saudi government has not decided what kind of penalty will be meted out to the defiant illegal workers.
“The Saudi government has not decided to take action against defiant illegal workers so far,” Ghimire told Republica, adding, “However, it may extend the amnesty period as thousands of illegal workers are still there. It will not be practically possible to take legal action against thousands of illegal workers at once.”

In an attempt to wipe out all illegal workers from its soil, Saudi Arabia had announced an amnesty for them on September 23 last year. The six-month amnesty period ended on March 23. However, only 5,000 illegal workers -- five per cent of the total number of Nepali migrants overstaying their visas in Saudi Arabia -- obtained travel documents to return home.

According to foreign employment agencies, more than 500,000 Nepalis are working in Saudi Arabia. Of them, Ghimire said, around 100,000 have been working there even after their visas expired. However, a majority of them did not approach the Nepali embassy to return home, taking advantage of the amnesty.

Most of the illegal Nepali workers, according to Ghimire, did not contact the embassy. “Seemingly, it was a six-month-long amnesty. However, illegal Nepali workers got only three months,” Ghimire said. “It is because when Saudi Arabia announced amnesty in September, it was meant for only those who entered Saudi Arabia on visit visas.”

Nepali illegal workers were not “huroobs” -- a termed used by Saudi Arabians to call those who hide to work after reaching there on visit visas. It was only after the embassies of various countries, mainly India and Bangladesh, pressed for including other types of illegal workers that the Saudi government decided to grant amnesty to overstaying workers in December. “We got too little time to disseminate the information,” Ghimire said. “Many illegal workers may still be unaware of it.”

A Nepali worker -- who is currently in Jeddah of Saudi Arabia and has overstayed his visa -- told Republica over phone that they faced several hassles in approaching the embassy as they were asked to find some local Saudi national to stand surety for them. Many Saudi nationals reportedly even charged illegal Nepali workers for this.

“We have heard that the Saudi Arabian government will fine us heavily. I expect this news to be false. I hope that the Saudi government will extend the amnesty period,” he said.
Nnnn




BENGALIS ATTACK NEPALIS IN MALAYSIA

Kathmandu, 9 April: One hundred Nepalis who haven’t been paid salary and perks lfor three months as per agreement have been assaulted, Ram Chandra Giri writes in Kantipur from Kuala Lumpur.
They were attacked Tuesday after raising the matter with management.
According to Nepalis, nearly 150 Bengali workers with the company assaulted them.
nnnn

DEPOSITS WITH PASHUPATI LISTED

Kathmandu, 9 April: Pashupatinath Study Management Independent Committee Friday made public a draft of the Income Management and Transparency, Kantipur reports.
There’s no record of offerings by devotees before 2018.
Gold is sought by gold, silver and money offered and stored in the upper floor of the main vault in the temple.
Other metals are stored in the ‘Bombay’vault.
The committee has recorded the gold and silver deposited at the main vault since 2018 and other metals at Bombay vault from 2055 until now.
Nearly Rs 200.7 million worth gold, silver and other metals are at the main vault.
“There’s no storage place for more offerings. It’s probable
many offerings may have decaled,” the report said..
It can be estimated deposits with the Raj Guthis in the Pashupati should besubstantial because more than Rs.1.5 billion deposited with Raj Guthi.
nnnn




MAOIST, UML MEET

Kathmandu, 9 April: A summit meeting of UML and Maoists is being
held Saturday on delayed government expansion, budget presentation 3 May andother issues after Maoist standing committee Friday decided not to send
remaining members of its government team until ‘satisfactory’ explanation
from UML of Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal on non-implementation of a 7-point intra-party agreement.
Maoists said the discussions will be ‘serious’ demanding a government to
present a complete budget 3 May was unilateral and against the spirit of an aagreement to present a supplementary budget.
Maoists said remaining members of its government will be decided only
Saturday’s meeting.
nnnn

Khas/Chetri Samaj

SPECIAL COURT WARNS CIAA SECRETARY

Kathmandu, 9 April: A three-member bench of the special court Friday
warned CIAA Secretary Bhagawati Kafle and asked him to furnish
documents within seven days to decide a case against his 29 March by a group of employees of the anti-graft body claiming illegal action.
The court sent a letter demanding documents,
CIAA warned stern action if documents weren’t submitted.
Nnnn

EIGHT FOREIGN CADETS GRADDUATE FROM WAR COLLEGE

Kathmandu, 9 April: Eight foreign cadets graduated Friday from the Nepal Army’s Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School in Bara.
Cadets from China, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Malaysia and Sri Lanka completed a 10-week course and were awarded certificates by Lt. Gen. Paban Jung Thapa.
Thirty-one Nepal Army officers also completed the course.
Nnnn

RAMESH PANDEY HOLD DISCUSSIONS IN NEW DELHI

Kathmandu, 9 April: Ramesh Nath Pandey held discussions in New Delhi
with Indian National Security Advisor Shiv Shanker Menon on Nepali
political situation, including a prolonged transition.
Pandey was foreign minister during the royal regime.
nnnn



ARMY CHIEF INDUCTED INTO HALL OF FAME

Kathmandu, 9 April: Army Chief Gen. Chatraman Singh Gurung, currently visiting USA, was inducted into the hall of fame at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Friday.
He completed his staff college course there.
Nnnn


NEPAL PLAYS NORTH KOREA SATURDAY

Kathmandu, 9 April: Nepal plays Asia’s soccer giant North Korea in its AFC Challenge Cup Group D qualifier Saturday in the capital.
The hosts beat Afghanistan in its first outing Thursday.
nnnn